WASHINGTON - Patients taking a widely prescribed prostate drug should alert their eye doctors before undergoing cataract surgery to avoid complications, several medical groups said Tuesday.
Advance warning can allow surgeons to modify their technique during the common operation and avoid complications seen in patients who take Flomax and similar drugs to treat enlargement of the […]

Millions of people are currently taking the drug flomax.  This drug is a alpha-adrenergic blocker that is used to treat enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia).  Flomax causes the blood vessels (veins and arteries) to relax and expand, so that blood passes through them more easily. This effect relaxes the muscles in the prostate and bladder […]

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — November 22, 2005 — The most commonly prescribed prostate drug may complicate cataract surgery in male patients?
Two recent studies suspected this after conducting a recently published study that examined the incidence of Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome (IFIS) in their cataract surgery practices with patients using Flomax or similar medications.
“Flomax does not affect […]

ASCRS (American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery) Issues Physician Advisory on Flomax®

Evidence Suggests Link Between Drug and Intraoperative Iris Complications

Two separate prospective and retrospective studies totaling more than 1600 combined patients sought to characterize the features, the incidence, the cause, and the management of a new small pupil syndrome that they have named the […]

ASCRS (American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery) Issues Physician Advisory on Flomax®
Evidence Suggests Link Between Drug and Intraoperative Iris Complications

Two separate prospective and retrospective studies totaling more than 1600 combined patients sought to characterize the features, the incidence, the cause, and the management of a new small pupil syndrome that they have named the […]

Flomax and cataract surgery (San Francisco, Oakland, Concord, San Jose, and Bay Area)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning healthcare professionals (particularly cataract surgeons) regarding the risk for intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) during cataract surgery in patients treated with tamsulosin HCl (Flomax capsules) or other alpha-1 blockers.
Male patients considering cataract surgery should be checked for […]

Commonly Asked Questions:
Are you taking Flomax?
If so, make your eye doctor aware of this at your eye appointment. Flomax has been associated with increased difficulty during cataract surgery and requires extra preparation to improve the chance of a good outcome. Tell your doctor you take Flomax. I repeat, tell your doctor you take Flomax. Flomax ell your doctor you take Flomax. Flomax […]

Flomax - tamsulosin

(tam soo LOW sin)
What is Flomax?
Flomax is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate).
Flomax is in a class of drugs called alpha-adrenergic blockers. Flomax causes the blood vessels (veins and arteries) to relax and expand, so that blood passes through them more easily. This effect relaxes the muscles in the prostate and […]

A recent article in the American Academy of Ophthalmology related the following story:
San Francisco - The most commonly prescribed prostate drug may cause complications in cataract surgery.  A recently published study examined the incidence of Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome (IFIS) in cataract surgery practices.
While Flomax does not affect vision or eye health, it does blocks the dilator muscle in […]